This has been the policy for years and years. Be glad you are not flying a business class free ticket as then they take 10% of the full J fare.... ugly, ugly, ugly.

Most of the European carriers (unlike AA) offer baby bassionets (sp?) at the bulkheads. They strap into the wall and then you can belt the baby into the bassionet. Very nice way to go after takeoff. They will also give you a seatbelt (which as the above poster mentioned may or may not be the best thing) for the baby that hooks into your belt for T/O and landing. US carriers do not offer these as they don't believe the work.